Mrs. Helai Karim Rutan
is a graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. From Fairfax, Virginia, Ms. Karim discovered her love of choral music at Robinson Secondary School, under the direction of Michael Horanski. Ms. Karim also completed her student teaching in Fairfax County at Liberty Middle School and Annandale High School.
During her time at James Madison, Ms. Karim sang in the Madison Singers and the Masterworks Chorale. She has been fortunate to study under the choral direction of Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy and Dr. Bryce Hayes. In 2016, Ms. Karim had the privilege of winning the James Madison ACDA Collegiate Conducting Competition. Ms. Karim has worked with various choirs, including the Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir and the Children's Chorus of Washington.
Ms. Karim opened Loudoun County’s Willard Intermediate School as its first choral director in 2018. Her ensembles received unanimous superior ratings in both performance and literacy in the school’s first year. Willard Chorus grew the choral program from 126 students in 2018-2019 to 253 students in 2019-2020. She continued on to Lightridge High School with her Willard Intermediate students for the school’s opening in August of 2020.
When Ms. Karim isn't singing, she enjoys attending student extra curricular events, keeping up with the latest fashion sneaker trends, and keeping up with her favorite sports teams and reality TV shows. Ms. Karim is beyond excited to be a charter member of Lightridge’s Music Department and continue to make music with her students!